Last week pictures emerged of Kim Jong-un and his wife visiting the newly opened Runga Theme Park in Pyongyang. But not only does the new facility feature a selection of thrilling new rides and waterpark attractions, new pictures released today by North Korean state media show how it also sports a dolphinarium featuring several highly trained and mature salt-water dolphins.
With international sanctions meant to prevent the import of luxury goods to the DPRK, it is noteworthy that Pyongyang managed to import the dolphins into the country unnoticed. But why? Not one to be outdone by South Korea, it is possible that Pyongyang was inspired by South Korea's recent import of three endangered Antartic Belluga Wales to their Yeosu aqarium, held there to showcase the "Preservation and Sustainable Development of the Ocean and Coast".
Last week pictures emerged of Kim Jong-un and his wife visiting the newly opened Runga Theme Park in Pyongyang. But not only does the new facility feature a selection of thrilling new rides and waterpark attractions, new pictures released today by North Korean state media show how it also sports a dolphinarium featuring several highly trained and mature salt-water dolphins.
With international sanctions meant to prevent the import of luxury goods to the DPRK, it is noteworthy that Pyongyang managed to import the dolphins into the country unnoticed. But why? Not one to be outdone by South Korea, it is possible that Pyongyang was inspired by South Korea's recent import of three endangered Antartic Belluga Wales to their Yeosu aqarium, held there to showcase the "Preservation and Sustainable Development of the Ocean and Coast".
Get the Daily Update
Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most –
Chad O'Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group's CEO, O'Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.